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Re: Sadly many buy into it.

Absolutely, Bel. And the optimum word is 'many.' I have a feeling that, for every one person who feels these ads are annoying, low-brow, juvenile, pointless, invasive and not worth the time or effort to read or watch, there are probably hundreds ( if not thousands ) who see nothing wrong with them, will 'buy into them,' and will give these advertisers reason to continue with these horrible, mind-numbing ads and commercials! Meanwhile, the population's I.Q. continues to drop . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 29, 2014 at 6:18 AM | link to this | reply

Re: JimmyA

In a small way it was, Sir Wiley. It's rare that I ever feel the need to 'sound off' about something, but I was always under the impression that at least a few of these advertisers would get somewhat 'smarter' over time. Instead, the pendulum has swung in the complete opposite direction to where it seems as though these ads are catering to the dumbest amongst us. Do the dumbest among us have the most money or do the most shopping? Apparently . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 29, 2014 at 6:13 AM | link to this | reply

Sadly many buy into it.

posted by Bel_Marshall on August 28, 2014 at 7:04 PM | link to this | reply

JimmyA

I'm sure that gave you a heap of release old pal, I mostly don't read ads.

posted by WileyJohn on August 28, 2014 at 6:45 PM | link to this | reply

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posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 12:53 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Jimmy

I absolutely agree, Naut. And that is the real problem: the people who actually respond to these ridiculous ads and aren't affected by their inaneness! Years ago, my dad used to say that, if they hired a well-known actress or singer or other female personality, and they advertised on TV that smearing cow shit on your face was good for your complexion, there are millions of women who would go out and do it! Some would call them consumers. Others refer to them as lemmings. I'm just glad there are at least a handful of us who aren't swayed by these horrible ads, and actually go out of our way to avoid them . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 12:53 PM | link to this | reply

posted by Carolyn_Moe on August 28, 2014 at 12:15 PM | link to this | reply

Jimmy

I agree, it's all nonsense, but that is not the issue! The question is - does it work? And it does! Companies are spending huge amounts of dough on ad agencies to design successful ads for them, and success is measured in sales. And ad agencies know what they're doing very well, they know their market, and if they don't, they go and find out. And what they come up with is tested in various ways, and although mistakes do happen, for the most part these ads work extremely well and produce results, i.e. sales and profits.

The real question is - what does it say about a public that responds by buying the product because of the ad?

posted by Nautikos on August 28, 2014 at 11:44 AM | link to this | reply

Re: JimmyA

I have a feeling, Justi, that 'ignorance' may be an understatement. Every once in a blue moon, I'm watching some program that, for whatever reason, shows an old TV ad from the '50's or '60's, and the difference is so stark it's incredible! They just had someone standing there, holding the product, telling you all you might need to know about it's uses and/or affects . . . and that's it! Isn't that all we need? All of this flashy, scene-jumping editing, accompanied by awful music, doesn't sell me or motivate me to buy their product! For example, I wouldn't care if my insurance rates were cut down to a dollar a month! I refuse to buy auto insurance from a company that uses a cartoon gecko with an English-accent as their spokesman! Good for you for avoiding these ads too . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:32 AM | link to this | reply

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And there lies the root of the problem, FSI! These ridiculous commercials are apparently working on someone, and as long as those dollars keep rolling in as a result, they'll keep churning out these stupid ads! I've seen some commercials ( muted, of course ) that I swear I had absolutely no idea what product they were advertising until they showed it at the very, very end! Whenever an acquaintance happily starts a sentence with "Hey, did you see that latest commercial for . . .?" I want to smack them in the head . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:26 AM | link to this | reply

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I know exactly what you're saying C C T, and technically that's the problem! Unfortunately, there is that percentage of the population that does believe everything they read, hear or see, and has no concept of discernment or the ability to see the blatant bullshit in front of them! I always liked those ads that said something to the effect of "Four out of five doctors recommend such & such . . ." I've always wanted to hear from that fifth doctor . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:21 AM | link to this | reply

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Good for you, TAPS. I really, really hope there are more and more people out there doing likewise. I don't know how much feedback these advertisers get as to the ridiculousness of their ads, but apparently they really don't care. They just keep churning out one stupid, low-brow advertisement after another! Yes, I too avoid all forms of advertisement whenever possible . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:17 AM | link to this | reply

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They are indeed, Kabu. When my wife and I are watching TV and a commercial comes on, the first thing I do is mute the television. Then I usually change the channel, and put on something 'neutral' ( like the Weather Channel ) until the show we're watching returns. But sometimes, I get to see certain commercials without hearing them, and the visuals are appalling. Not only do they make me not want to purchase their products or use their services, but it really saddens me to think that there are people out there who not only enjoy these commercials, but are actually swayed by their nonsense! It really is a terrible, and intelligence-insulting, industry . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:14 AM | link to this | reply

Re: JimmyA

I'm sure they do, Bill, I'm sure they do! Apparently, it's an easy template to follow, since they seem to go out of their way to cater to the lowest common denominator. Geez, I can't stand commercials anymore . . .

posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:10 AM | link to this | reply

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posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:08 AM | link to this | reply

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posted by JimmyA on August 28, 2014 at 6:07 AM | link to this | reply

JimmyA

This is a comment long overdue. I don't think they know they are insulting our intelligence, they haven't enough of their own to understand their perspective consumer. How do I know that or why make such a statement. I have not been seeing TV ads for a long time because they are so inane. But just recently I watched a few just for such as you are talking about here...their ignorance.

posted by Justi on August 28, 2014 at 1:23 AM | link to this | reply

I feel the exact same way about those advertisements, too...They must apparently work very well because they keep doing them.

posted by FormerStudentIntern on August 27, 2014 at 6:12 PM | link to this | reply

Well I expect a certain percentage of folk think, look a Doctor says this is a miracle cure, I suppose it would not seem the same if a postman was saying to a traffic warden, 'I have invented a pill that will cure all your ailments and make you slim and cleanse your colon.' I did buy some Krill pellets from a firm and then I was offered pain release and every thing one could think of, but as I was cured it was no use to me.

posted by C_C_T on August 27, 2014 at 10:28 AM | link to this | reply

I have no answer to why. I avoid as many ads as possible everywhere..tv, magazines, everywhere. I have better things to do. I always mute tv ads if I'm watching tv.

posted by TAPS. on August 27, 2014 at 10:02 AM | link to this | reply

You must feel much better having written that off your chest our James. LOL...Actually, I never even look at advertising, with me they are wasting their money. I use one cream day and night or at least when I remember to and virtually no make up anymore. It is the same with wonder drugs and stuff to help with circulation and back pain and all the gadgets that won't really help, I switch off because as you are saying, it is an insult to my intelligence.